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‘Aragalaya’ 2nd phase in Colombo on 27 October?

20 Oct 2022

A people’s “aragalaya” (struggle) has been organised by the Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC) with the participation of student unions, civil society organisations, social activists, teachers, principals, and trade unionists representing the Government, semi-Government, private, estate, and other sectors, on 27 October under the themes “stop the suppression” and “give space to the people’s voice”. TUCC Convenor Wasantha Samarasinghe, speaking at a gathering on Tuesday (18), stressed that the second phase of the “aragalaya”, which is to commence on 27 October, will not stop until “the Government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is sent home”. “We took part in the most successful ‘aragalaya’ on 6 May, which sent Rajapaksa home. This ‘aragalaya’ is to resolve the issues of the people. Over the past three months, youths, social activists, trade unions, student unions, farmers, fisher folk, and others gave you a clear message that the second phase of the ‘aragalaya’ will commence. The fight that we are to begin on 27 October will not end until we send the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa Government home, remember that.  “We urge all unions to join this. Once we are close to the date, we will inform you of what should take place on that day. We will prove to Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa that the ‘aragalaya’ is still alive. What we start on 27 October is going to determine the end of their journey.” Samarasinghe also stated that trade unionists representing the Government, semi-Government, private, estate, and other sectors along with student unions, civil society movements, and social activists, have been invited by the TUCC to converge in Colombo on the day.  “We will be speaking to more unions from today onwards. With the support of everyone, we will make this ‘aragalaya’ successful.” Speaking at the same gathering, representing the TUCC, Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said that principals and teachers from across the island will also unite on that day to give their fullest support to the “aragalaya” as they had done before.  “We tell Wickremesinghe and the Rajapaksa clan that no matter what sort of suppression they try, we will not pay heed. We will not let suppression limit us. We will not turn back without a win. We guarantee that we will unite the teachers and principals from across the country to support this ‘aragalaya’. Even now, the teachers and principals are carrying out their responsibilities. We will continue to do so even tomorrow.” Also representing the TUCC, College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) President Ravi Kumudesh said: “Trade unions, student unions, civil society movements, communal organisations, and others will unite for the ‘aragalaya’ on 27 October. It is important that we unite and cast aside our personal and political ideologies, and determine how we are going to move forward. We need a civil force to provide some political leadership. Therefore, it is essential that we stand together and move forward.”


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